Coin-controlled air valve



McLAIN GIBBS AND JAMES H. DAVIS. COIN CONTROLLED AIR VALVE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.24, 1919.-

1,427 529, Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

3 Wu (WI kw M Lain Gibb Jmnas H1 Davziz McLAlN GlBBS AND JAMES H. DAVIS.

COIN CONTROLLED AIR VALVE.

APPLICA ION FILED SEPF24. I919.

Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MLam 6111173. James Hflawls.

MGIIAIN GIBBS AND JAMES H. DAVIS, 0F EVERETT, WASHINGTON.

COIN-CONTROLLED AIR VALVE.

menses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

Application filed September 24, 1919. Serial No. 325,956.

To all whom it mavg concern:

Be it known that we, MoLAIx Grass and JAMES H. Davis, citizens of the United States, and residents of the city of Everett, county of Snohomish and State of VVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled A11" Valves, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to coin-controlled devices, and more particularly to a device by means of which a valve may be controlled to open or close by means of a coin-controlled mechanism.

Our invention is conceived more particularly as a device for vending compressed air such as is commonly supplied at automobile service stations and garages and known as free air. For this reason we have called our device a coin-controlled air valve.

The object of our invention is to provide means whereby the air which is now dis' pensed as free air, may be used only upon payment of a coin, in this way taking care of the expense of operating the compressor for the air. Another object is to provide means whereby a valve may be opened by coin-controlled mechanism and locked fin its open position.

Although we shall describe our device as applied to air valves of the type described,

itwould be apparent that the device may be used upon valves controlling liquids or other gases which it is desired to vend in this manner. Also, although the device will be described as operable to lock the valve in its open position, it is evident that by reversing the valve the device might be made to operate to lock the valve in its closed position, if this were found desirable- Our invention comprises the novel parts and a combination of parts which are shown in the accompanying drawings, described in the specification, and particularly defined by the claims terminating the same.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown our invention in a form which is now preferred by us.

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the vending machine showing the delivery hose attached and partly broken away to show its connection with the air valve.

Fig. 2 is a section through the device illustrating the locking means.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the device.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the device, parts being broken away and shown in Vertical section.

Fig. 5 is a detail in section of the valve and the locking device.

The valve casing 1 is enclosed within a covering or casing 3. The coin-controlled locking device is also enclosed within this casing and it is operable by means of a push button 20 projecting therefrom. A lever 4 also extends without the casing and is adapted to form a support for the end of the air hose 10. The hose i0 is connected to the outlet pipe 11, ot' the air valve. The I stem 16, and a spring 17 interposed between 4 the collar 2 and the fixed stop 31. serves to hold the valve normally in closed position.

It may be found desirable to provide the collar 2 with a guide. as 21, slidable in a notch in the top 31. At its outer end the collar is provided with a projecting boss 22, which in turn has a hole 24 therein opening outward or toward the coin-chute 33. Preferably the hole 24 is axially alined with valve stem 16. though this is not essential.

The coin-chute 33 is of any suitable design as herein shown. It comprises a chute open at the bottom to permit coins smaller than the designated coin to pass through and fall into the casing 3. The lower end 34 is closed sufliciently to hold the designated coin and to prevent its passage downward through the opening. A plunger 25 upon which the push button 20 is mounted is alined with the opening 24 in the collar 2. and is of smaller diameter than the hole 24. It is so positioned that the coin held at the lower end of the coin chute 33 is interposed between the plunger and the boss 22. A spring 26 or any other suitable means serves to keep the plunger 25 retracted.

The locking means herein shown comprises a shoulder 27 upon the collar 2 which faces outward and which may be engaged by the lever 4. as is shown in Figure 5. The lever 4 is pivoted by its inner end to the casing 3 as at A spring 41 of any suitable type presses the lever l upward into contact with the collar and behind the shoulder 27. As herein shown the spring 41 is formed as a single leaf spring secured to the casing 3 at 36, and provided at its outer end with guides 42 which may engage the lever 4; The spring may lock behind the end of the collar 2, if desired, instead of behind the shoulder 27.

In operation, when a motorist desires to use the compressed air he takes the'end'of the hose 10 from the lever 4, thus releasing the lever and permitting it to lock the valve in open position when the stem is retracted. He then places the designated coin in the chute. It is stopped at the lower end of the chute 34 and held between the plunger 25 and the boss22. By pressing inward upon the push button 20 the valve is opened and the coin carried sidewise out of the chute 33. When the valve stem 16 has been retracted sufficiently the lever 4 is sprung upward behind the shoulder 27 and locks the valve in open position. The push button 20 may then be released and the coin drops to the bottom of the casing 3. The motorist may then use as much of the compressed air as he. desires. 'hen .he is through he replaces the hose upon the lever 4, and in so doing releases the lock upon the valve; the spring 17 then reseats the valve and shuts off the supply. It can be seen that unless a coin is interposed between the plunger .25

ment of the designated coin, while at the.

same time the motorist. may draw off as much air as he desires upon payment of the one coin.

We e l armi I I 1. In combinatlon, a valve normally closed,

an outlet hose attached to said valve, means for locking said valve in open position, said means including a pivoted lever adapted to support the end of said hose to be thereby depressed to release the locking means.

2. In combination, a delivery valve normall y closed, a delivery hose attached thereto, a lever adapted automatically to lock said valve in open position and to receive the end of said hose to thereby unlock the valve at will. and separate means for opening said valve.

3. In combination, a delivery valve normally closed, coin-controlled means for retracting said valve to open it, a lever automatically movable intoan upper position upon retraction of the valve to lock it in open position, and manually and positively movable at will into a lower position to unlock the valve to permit closure thereof.

Signed at Everett, Washington, this 12th day of September, 1919. v

MoLAIN GIBBS. JAMES H. DAVIS. 

